Alija Izetbegovic, the former president of Bosnia Herzegovina and winner of the Islamic Personality of the Year of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award, arrived in Dubai Monday night, said the Gulf News.
The visiting guest was received by Sheikh Hasher Maktoum, Director of Dubai Information Department upon his arrival at the Dubai International Airport.
Izetbegovic will be honoured by Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defence Minister, Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum at Zabeel Mosque Wednesday, awarding him with Dh1 million ($272,480).
Ibrahim Bumelha, Dubai's attorney general, has said upon naming the 67-year-old former president for the year of the Islamic personality, that he was chosen from among many prominent Islamic scholars. He has been honored for his distinguished contributions in the service of Islam in the strategic region of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He led Muslims in that region to independence and freedom.
Bumelha, who is also the chairman of the award's organizing committee, said the closing ceremony for the award would be held on the 20th of Ramadan (Dec. 5), at the Za'abeel Grand Mosque, during which winners of the 2001 Quran memorization contest will also be honored.
This year's winner became the first president of Bosnia Herzegovian in 1990 after a brutal war waged against his country by the Serbian government of Yugoslavia.
Izetbegovic has won a number of awards in recognition of his services to Islam, democracy and his people.
Izetbegovic, a noted writer on Islamic issues, founded the Democratic Labor Party in 1989 after the collapse of communism in his country - Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
